Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Australian soccer after 32 years of waiting

By Bren O’Brien in Kaiserslautern

The electricity of expectation in the crowd at the Fritz Walter Stadium was enough to power the city of Kaiserslautern. For the Australian fans, the tension of 32 years without a match on the world's biggest stage was about to be released, and it told in their mood. Always the professional first and a fan second, I was battling to contain myself.

Helped by the magnificence of the stadium, whose red and white seats were quickly being covered by spectators clad in blue (Japan) and yellow (Australia), the atmosphere was trapped beneath the perspex roof of the stands, giving the impression that much more than the 46,000 capacity had packed the ground.

By sheer numerical advantage, the Japanese fans were the louder of the two, but the Green and Gold Army were doing their best, if sometimes a little unsubtle. 'Who killed all the whales?'

-----------Okay, Australia won, but only in the last five minutes. However there has been some excitement in Australia because the game of soccer is now on the agenda. Though Australian Rules Footie is still the REAL game over here, especially in Victoria where it originated.Some rugby matches are on too of course and ask any Fijian and he'll know all about that game!

4 comments:

Who is Sea Shepherd? I'll have to look that one up.Hmmm. Wonder what will be the outcome of the voting in St. Kitts? I notice that some Pacific Island countries rewarded Japan's aid to them by voting with them - such as Tuvalu, Kiribas, Marshall Islands. What was Fiji's vote, I wonder.W.

Re. the Soccer - well, 2 to nil isn't too bad against Brazil. Now as long as Croatia can't beat Oz, 'we' will get into the next round. Even Aussie Rules tragics are watching soccer at 3 a.m. this week!W.

The Australia Croatia match will be interesting because of two Geelong guys - one plays for Oz, the other for Croatia. There are several Australian Croatians on the other team, and visa-versa. Our city has a large population of migrants who came from former Yugaslavia.W.

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About Me

Introducing Peceli and Wendy. Babasiga (pronounced bambasinga) is the dry land of Macuata in northern Fiji - our place in the sun in Fiji. The town is Labasa and our village is Vatuadova and the beach is Nukutatava. We are part of Wailevu Fijian tribe with relatives in Mali Island and Naseakula village. Peceli was born in Labasa and Wendy is an Australian and today live in Geelong, Australia.